John McCain TV Ad: "Broken" VIDEO

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its latest television ad, entitled "Broken." The ad highlights John McCain's record of taking on the special interests in Washington. The ad will air in key states.

Transcript For "Broken" (TV :60)

ANNCR: Washington's broken. John McCain knows it. We're worse off than we were four years ago.

Only McCain has taken on big tobacco, drug companies, fought corruption in both parties. He'll reform Wall Street, battle Big Oil, make America prosper again.

He's the original maverick.

One is ready to lead -- McCain.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

AD FACTS: Script For "Broken" (TV :60)

ANNCR: Washington's broken. John McCain knows it. We're worse off than we were four years ago. Only McCain has taken on big tobacco, drug companies, fought corruption in both parties.

The New York Times' David Brooks: "McCain Has Fought One Battle After Another Against Lobbyists And Special Interests." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Real McCain," The New York Times, 2/26/08)

Public Citizen's Joan Claybrook: "John McCain has fought for 14 long, hard years for reforms that seriously limit lobbyists' power ... He has fought for campaign finance reform, limits on gifts and travel from lobbyists, and extensive public disclosure of lobbyists' activities all of which limit the influence of lobbyists and the companies that hire lobbyists in Washington, D.C." (Public Citizen, "One Thing Overlooked In Flap Over McCain And Lobbyists: His Record On Reform," Press Release, 2/26/08)

The Boston Globe: "McCain Took On The Tobacco Industry." "Ten years ago, Senator John McCain took on the tobacco industry, saying he would never back down from legislation to regulate the industry. ... McCain's decade of work on tobacco, one of the most significant efforts of his congressional career, has earned him enmity from the industry and from some fellow Republicans over the years." (Michael Kranish, "McCain's Stand On Tobacco Is Put To Test," The Boston Globe, 3/26/08)

McCain's Championing Of Anti-Smoking Legislation "Faced Furious Opposition From The Tobacco Lobby." "In 1998, McCain championed anti-smoking legislation that faced furious opposition from the tobacco lobby. McCain guided the legislation through the Senate Commerce Committee on a 19-1 vote, but then the tobacco companies struck back. They hired 200 lobbyists and spent $40 million in advertising (three times as much as the Harry and Louise health care reform ads). Many of the ads attacked McCain by name, accusing him of becoming a big government liberal. After weeks of bitter debate, the bill died on the Senate floor." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Real McCain," The New York Times, 2/26/08)

In 2004, John McCain Co-Sponsored Bipartisan Drug Reimportation Legislation. "At a press conference today, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) introduced breakthrough bipartisan, consensus prescription drug reimportation legislation, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act, with Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), John McCain (R-AZ), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Trent Lott (R-MS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)." (Sen. Olympia Snowe, Press Release, 4/21/04)

John McCain Fought To Allow The Importation Of Cheaper Drugs Which Was "Adamantly Opposed By Industry Lobbyists." "McCain said he wanted the government to be able to negotiate lower drug prices and import cheaper drugs from Canada, both ideas that were adamantly opposed by industry lobbyists, and which ultimately failed." (Eamon Javers, "Is John McCain Good For Business?" Business Week Online, 2/7/08)

A John McCain Bill To Make It Easier For Cheap Generic Drugs To Come Onto The Market Drew "Strong Opposition From The Pharmaceutical Industry." "The most public front was active last week, with the Senate passing a bill intended to make it easier for cheap generic drugs to come onto the market. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., drew considerable support in Congress and strong opposition from the pharmaceutical industry." ("Insurers' 'Counter' Attacks Aim To Boost Generic Drugs," Grand Rapid Press, 8/11/02)

McCain Passed Campaign Finance Reform Which "Was A Direct Assault On Lobbyist Power." "In 2002, McCain capped his long push for campaign finance reform by passing the McCain-Feingold Act. People can argue about the effectiveness of the act, but one thing is beyond dispute. It was a direct assault on lobbyist power, and earned McCain undying enmity among many important parts of the Republican coalition, who felt their soft money influence was being diminished." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Real McCain," The New York Times, 2/26/08)

John McCain's Investigation Into The Boeing Tanker Deal "Exposed Billions Of Dollars Of Waste And Layers Of Contracting Irregularity." "In 2004, McCain launched a frontal assault on the leasing contract the Pentagon had signed with Boeing for aerial refueling tankers. McCain's investigation exposed billions of dollars of waste and layers of contracting irregularity." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Real McCain," The New York Times, 2/26/08)

John McCain Led The Congressional Investigation Into Jack Abramoff. "In 2005, McCain led the Congressional investigation into the behavior of the lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The investigation was exceedingly unpleasant for Republicans, because it exposed shocking misbehavior by important conservative activists." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Real McCain," The New York Times, 2/26/08)

ANNCR: He'll reform Wall Street, battle Big Oil, make America prosper again. He's the original maverick. One is ready to lead -- McCain. JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

John McCain Will Be Vigilant In Holding Corporate Abuses To Account. "Americans are right to be offended when extravagant CEO salaries and severance deals bear no relation to their company's success or shareholders' wishes. As president, John McCain will see that wrongdoing of this kind is called to account by federal prosecutors. Under his reforms, all aspects of a CEO's pay, including severance arrangements, must be approved by shareholders." (John McCain 2008, "A Leader We Can Believe In To Help Small Businesses," Press Release, 6/11/08)

John McCain Has Called For The Immediate Formation Of A Justice Department Mortgage Abuse Task Force. "The Task Force will aggressively investigate potential criminal wrongdoing in the mortgage industry and bring to justice any who violated the law. The DOJ Task Force will offer assistance to State Attorney Generals who are investigating abusive lending practices." (John McCain 2008, "John McCain's Economic Plan," Press Release, 4/15/08)

John McCain Believes We Must Understand The Role Speculation Is Playing In Our Soaring Energy Prices. "Congress already has several investigations underway to examine this kind of wagering in our energy markets, unrelated to any kind of productive commerce, because it can distort the market, drive prices beyond rational limits, and put the investments and pensions of millions of Americans at risk. John McCain believes that where we find abuses, they need to be swiftly punished. To make sure it never happens again, we must reform the laws and regulations governing the oil futures market, so that they are just as clear and effective as the rules applied to stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments." (John McCain 2008, "Securing Our Energy Future," Press Release, 6/17/08)

John McCain Voted Against The 2005 Energy Bill. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #152: Motion Agreed To 92-4: R 53-1; D 38-3; I 1-0, 6/23/05, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #158: Passed 85-12: R 49-5; D 35-7; I 1-0, 6/28/05, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #213: Adopted 74-26: R 49-6; D 25-19; I 0-1, 7/29/05, McCain Voted Nay)

John McCain Criticized The 2005 Energy Bill's "Handouts To Big Business And Oil Companies," Calling Them Irresponsible. McCain: "This bill does little to address the immediate energy crisis we face in this country. The handouts to big business and oil companies are irresponsible and will be disastrous for people of Arizona. I cannot in good conscience, vote to pass legislation that does not adequately address issues related to energy efficiency, security, and energy independence." (Sen. John McCain, "McCain, Kyl Say No To Flawed Energy Bill," Press Release, 6/28/05) ###

For Immediate Release August 5, 2008 Contact: Press Office 703-650-5550

Tags: Barack Obama and John McCain

Dr. Cindy L. Courville Biography

Dr. Cindy L. Courville

Dr. Cindy L. Courville is the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union. Prior to her appointment she served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council where she developed and coordinated United States policy engagement with Africa. She is responsible for the formulation, coordination, and implementation of policies related to South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, and military and security issues related to southern Africa.

Ambassador Courville went to the NSC from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), where she served as a Senior Intelligence Officer in the Office of the Chief of Staff. Dr. Courville is on leave from the Defense Intelligence Agency, where she is the Policy Staff Director for Africa at the Directorate of Operations and is responsible for all aspects of policy and regulatory development for Sub-Saharan Africa.

In her career at DIA, she also served the Deputy Assistant Defense Intelligence Office for Africa Policy as a liaison to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Africa, the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Ambassador Courville was also the Director for East African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where she was responsible for the coordination of U.S. military and security policy with East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Ambassador Courville previously served as Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council from June 2001 through August 2003.

Ambassador Courville's professional experience includes ten years in the University arena as a member of the political science faculty at Hanover College in Indiana and Occidental College in Los Angeles. She was an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Zimbabwe; a Shell Oil Fellow at the University of Denver; and a Ford Minority Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Ambassador Courville graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a B.A. and M.A. in political science and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Denver ( MA '80, PhD '88,), Graduate School of International Studies, in comparative politics and international relations. A native of Opelousas, La., she attended segregated schools until the 8th grade and was among the first wave of African-American students to integrate the state's public classrooms.

After earning her bachelor's and master's degree in political science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Courville enrolled at DU's (University of Denver) Graduate School of International Studies, where her interest was piqued by the liberation struggle that transformed Rhodesia into Zimbabwe. In 1984, she traveled to Zimbabwe on a fellowship, an opportunity that allowed her to get to know government ministers, white landowners and black laborers. The diversity of her contacts, she says, provided a sense of balance that has characterized her approach to research and analysis.

Courville landed in Washington during the last years of the Clinton administration after a 10-year teaching career that culminated at California's Occidental College. There, she met a guest speaker from the Army War College, who encouraged her international relations students to consider a career with the Defense Department. Courville was intrigued. "I said, 'Well, what about me?'"

That question was answered 18 months later when she went to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a political/military analyst. At the start of the Bush administration in 2001, she moved to the National Security Council as a director responsible for southern and central Africa. In 2003, she organized President Bush's trip to Africa, accompanying him on its many legs. She then briefly returned to DIA as a team chief responsible for providing a daily compilation of African "all-source" intelligence. The information she collected and synthesized was used on the ground by military attaches and U.S. troops. Occasionally, she even instructed special operations forces on U.S. foreign policy.

SOURCES:

• Ambassador AU
• Dr. Cindy L. Courville State Department
• Occidental College Office of Global Affairs
• U.S. Mission to The African Union